Across Africa’s Sahel region, land once fertile has turned to desert, driving hunger, migration, and conflict. Yet, through bold vision and grassroots leadership, the Great Green Wall initiative is transforming degraded land into thriving ecosystems.
In this compelling talk, the Ambassador of the Great Green Wall and founder of One Billion Trees for Africa Tabi Joda shares a transformative vision: restoring degraded land not only revives ecosystems, but creates jobs, strengthens food systems, and empowers rural women and youth. From planting millions of trees to building green economies, this is a movement rooted in local leadership and nature-based solutions—and it’s delivering impact at scale. Joda shares how environmental stewardship, inspirational leadership, women’s empowerment, and youth innovation are reshaping Africa’s future and why the lessons from this movement matter for the world.
Location
The Visitor Center Auditorium
Instructor
Tabi Joda is an environmentalist, social entrepreneur, and Ambassador of Africa’s Great Green Wall. He is the founder of the One Billion Trees for Africa campaign, which mobilizes communities across the continent to restore degraded land, fight climate change, and secure sustainable livelihoods.
For over a decade, Joda has worked with rural women and youth to turn environmental challenges into opportunities for empowerment, resilience, and growth. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to healing both the land and the people who depend on it, making him a global voice for climate action and ecological restoration. Joda is the winner of 2017 Africa Prize for Climate Information Services Innovation by the African Climate Policy Centre-United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and President Yuweri Museveni Environmental Award 2017.
